Multiple pocket envelope



p 3, 1968 M. P. JOHNSON 3,399,823 v I MULTIPLE PocEET ENVELOPE Filed July 5, 1967 FIGQI W FIG. 4

- INVENTOR. MICHAEL P. JOHNSON ATTQRNEY'S W ZW,WM 5 W I United States Patent Oflice 3,399,823 MULTIPLE POCKET ENVELOPE Michael P. Johnson, Longmeadow, Mass., assignor to United States Envelope Company, Springfield, Mass., a corporation of Maine Filed July 3, 1967, Ser. No. 650,865 7 Claims. (Cl. 22972) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This disclosure is of a multiple pocket envelope made from a unitary blank having a front panel, Side panels folded against the rear surface of the front panel and leaving a portion of the latter surface exposed therebetween, and a back panel covering both the side panels and the exposed rear surface portion. The front, back and side panels are adhesively joined together in assembly and cooperate to form a plurality of pockets therebetween. A sealing flap or closure panel integrally joined to the blank provides a closure for the pockets.

Background of invention This invention relates in general to envelopes and deals more particularly with a multiple pocket envelope formed from a unitary blank.

The general aim of the present invention is to provide an improved multiple pocket envelope particularly adapted to carry merchandise redemption coupons, stamps, coins, or the like. The envelope may, for example, serve as both a receptacle in which coupons are accumulated and as a mailing container for the coupons after a requisite number have been saved for redemption purposes.

A further aim of the Present invention is to provide an envelope of the aforedescribed type adapted to economical automatic machine production.

Summary of invention In accordance with the present invention a multiple set of opposed side panels folded into overlying relation with the front panel and of such a size and so arranged that the free side edges thereof are spaced apart to expose a portion of the front panel rear surface therebetween. A rear panel integrally joined to the front panel and folded into overlying relation with the side panels and the exposed rear surface portion of the front panel is joined in assembly to at least one of the side panels and to the front panel by adhesive lines. The front panel, said one side panel and the rear panel cooperate in assembly to form pockets therebetween. Additional adhesive strips may be optionally provided to further divide the pockets so formed and thereby increase the number of pockets in the envelope.

Brief description of the drawings FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an envelope embody ing the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a blank from which the envelope of FIG. 1 is formed, the blank being shown before folding.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the envelope blank of FIG. 2 but shows the side panels folded over against the front panel thereof.

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 but shows the rear panel folded over against the side panels to complete the envelope.

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal section taken on line 5-5 in FIG. 4.

Patented Sept. 3, 1968 Detailed description of the preferred embodiment In the drawing, a multiple pocket envelope embodying the present invention is indicated generally at 10 in FIG. 1. The envelope 10 is formed from a unitary blank, indicated generally at 12 in FIG. 2, which may be cut by a die or other suitable means from any suitable paper stock. A plurality of fold or score lines divide the blank into a series of panels including a front panel 14, side panels 16 and 18, a rear panel 20, and a closure or sealing panel 22. The front panel 14 is generally rectangular, being defined by two side fold lines 28 and 30, a bottom fold line 26 and a top fold line 24. The remaining panels may be made in various shapes but preferably and as shown each of these panels is also generally rectangular.

The sequence in which the panels are folded to form the envelope 10 is shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. Referring to FIG. 3 it will be seen that the side panels 16 and 18, which are preferably substantially identical, are first folded along the side fold lines 28 and 30 respectively into overlying relation with the rear surface of the front panel 14. The side panels 16 and 18 have a combined width, or horizontal diameter as viewed in FIG. 2, such that the free side edges thereof, respectively indicated at 32 and 34, are spaced a substantial distance from each other. Thus, the side panels only partially cover the front panel rear surface leaving a portion of the latter surface exposed therebetween.

The rear panel is thereafter folded along the bottom fold line 26 into overlying relation with the side panels 16 and 18 and the front panel 14, but before this folding takes place at least two sets of adhesive strips are applied to the side panels and to the exposed rear surface portion of the front panel. One set consists of two generally rectangular adhesive strips 36 and 38 which are applied to the side panels 16 and 18, respectively, and each of which extends for some distance along its panel close to the associated score line 28 or 30. These two adhesive strips serve to bond the side edges of the rear panel 20 to the side panels 16 and 18.

The second set of generally rectangular adhesive strips consists of two strips 40 and 42 which respectively extend for some distance along the free side edges 32 and 34 of the side panels -16 and 18. The strips 40 and 42 are generally centered relative to the free edges 32 and 34 so that as viewed in FIG. 3, the left-hand half of the strip 40 is located on the side panel 16 and its right-hand half on the front panel 14 and the left-hand half of the strip 42 is located on the front panel 14 and its right-hand half on the side panel 18. The adhesive strips 40 and 42 therefore serve to bond the rear panel 20 to the side panels 16 and 18 and to the front panel 14. The four adhesive strips are or may be applied simultaneously and may be applied either to the parts as shown in FIG. 3 or to the rear panel 20.

When the envelope 10 is assembled in the aforedescribed manner the front panel 14, the side panels 16 and 18, and the rear panel 20 cooperate to form a plurality of pockets designated by the numerals 44, 46, 48, 50 and 52 and shown in FIGS. 1 and 5. Each pocket is preferably provided with a finger gripping area formed by cutting recesses in the panels 16, 18 and 20 when the blank is cut so that each pocket may be more easily As previously noted the closure panel or sealing flap 22 may vary in shape but preferably it is generally rectangular and joined to the front panel along the fold line 24. As illustrated the panel 22 is somewhat larger in its vertical dimension (as viewed in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4) than the rear panel 20 so that when folded along the fold line 24 to its closed position its free edge 60 is located some distance beyond the fold line 26. A fold line 62 is spaced a short distance from the free edge 60 and arranged generally parallel thereto to define a flap 63 which may be folded over and sealed to the front face of the front panel 14 to provide a complete closure for the envelope 10. A strip 64 of adhesive is provided on the flap 63 to facilitate sealing. The strip 64 is preferably of a remoistenable adhesive and the fold line 62 may be perforated to facilitate opening of the envelope after it is sealed.

I claim:

1. A multiple pocket envelope made from a unitary blank and comprising a generally rectangular front panel at least partially defined by two side fold lines and a bottom fold line, a set of opposed side panels, each of said sidepanels being integrally joined to said front panel along one of said side fold lines and being folded therealong into overlying relation with the rear surface of said front panel, said side panels being of such a size and shape as to partially cover said front panel rear surface and to have their free side edges spaced a substantial distance from each other so that a portion of the latter rear surface is exposed therebetween, a rear panel integrally joined to said front panel along said bottom fold line and folded therealong into overlying relation with said side panels and said exposed rear surface portion, means connecting said rear panel to said side panels adjacent said side fold lines, and means connecting said rear panel to at least one of said side panels along a line generally parallel to and intermediate said side fold lines and to said exposed rear surface portion of said front panel adjacent said free side edges of said side panels.

2. A multiple pocket envelope as defined in claim 1 further characterized by said means connecting said rear panel to at least one of said side panels comprising means bonding said rear panel to said side panels and to said s ssaga sza 1 a 4": I- i exposed rear surface portion of said front panel adjacent said free side edges of said side panels.

3. A multiple pocket envelope as set forth in claim 2 further characterized by said means for bonding said rear panel to said side panels adjacent said side fold lines comprising two strips of adhesive each extending along a respective one of said fold lines between the associated one of said side panels and said rear panel, and said means for bonding said rear panel to said side panels and to said exposed 'rear surface portion of said front panel adjacent said free side edges of said side panels comprising two strips of adhesive each extending along a respective one of said free side edges.

4. A multiple pocket envelope as set forth in claim 3 further characterized by each of said two strips of adhesive extending along a respective one of said free side edges being arranged so that the associated free side edge is located between the side edges of the strip so that part of the strip is located on the associated side panel and part of said strip is located on said exposed rear surface portion of said front panel.

5. A multiple pocket envelope as set forth in claim 1 further characterized by a closure panel integrally joined to said front panel along a fold line defining a top edge of said front panel and folded therealong into a closed position at which it overlies said rear panel.

6. A multiple pocket envelope as set forth in claim 5 further characterized by a portion of said closure panel extending beyond said bottom fold line when said closure panel is in said closed position and having a quantity of adhesive thereon.

7. A multiple pocket envelope as set forth in claim 1 further characterized by said side panels being substantially identical.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,561,454 11/1925 Ashby 22973 2,860,826 11/1958 Cooke 22972 2,887,327 5/1959 Tucker 229-72 DAVID M. BOCKENEK, Primary Examiner. 

